Green is the Color || Ominis x OC || Hogwarts Legacy

Of a Gentle Return

That year, Christmas was different for four particular people.

For Allegra and Ominis, it was spent sprawled by the fireplace of the Chant home. It was spent stuffing their faces with too much fruit and too much food. When the sun set, the Chant family brought them out to the veranda to watch the fireworks in the sky. It didn't matter whether it was wizards or Muggles sending out sparks of color into the air. Allegra told him they were beautiful, and that was enough for Ominis.

A shiny bracelet was looped around Allegra's wrist. It was made of delicate goblin silver, with a filigree pattern ending in the Gryffindor lion. The gift was chosen after Garreth had told him Allegra was going on and on about a bracelet she'd dropped in the Forbidden Forest. Ominis supposed he owed the Weasley for that one.

On Ominis' side sat a custom-made broom. It was made of dark wood with a textured handle and a wider seat. Just below the handle, a telescope-looking structure was carved into the wood, tipped with a large glass bulb. This lens would increase his wand's range enough to allow him to reasonably navigate through the air. Ominis didn't realize his jaw was on the floor until the Chants started laughing at him. Allegra revealed that she and Albie Weekes had spent, well, weeks designing the broom, specifically for him. He'd never felt so bloody spoiled in his entire life.

On their final night, Crescenda and Andante Chant tucked them into bed. Allegra laughed and complained that she was already sixteen—what were they still doing this for? Ominis knew she didn't really mind, though, when she let her father smooth her hair and kiss her on the cheek.

He let Crescenda do the same for him without much protest. The woman adjusted his blankets, fluffed his pillows, and gave him a kiss on his forehead as she left. They called him son. Never had he been touched—or even regarded—so warmly by the parental figures in his life.

On the other side of the continent, Sebastian was sharing a cold glass of wine with Sirona. They watched carolers singing in Hogsmeade Square, bellies full from a simple but enjoyable Christmas dinner.

Although Sebastian was working hard to clear the clouds in his mind, his thoughts were still drifting to his sister. He couldn't imagine the pain she was feeling now, both emotional and physical. Her condition had already been so much worse when The Incident happened. For all he knew, she could be—

—no. He wasn't going to think like that.

There was still a small part of him that wondered if he hadn't tried hard enough. If he had just been braver, smarter, maybe he could have finally found the cure for his sister.

But there was another part of Sebastian--a calmer, sadder part--that told him he'd already pushed it far enough.

So he let himself be content with Sirona, the snow, and the carolers outside the Three Broomsticks.

And finally...

A girl made her way up to the streets of Muggle London, wielding a strange-looking cane. She heard people muttering about it as she passed: what did a girl as young as her need it for?

But Anne Sallow pressed on, wincing at the pain that shot up her entire body with every step. Her breath was heaving by the time she tapped her cane on a black-and-gold door that read Dr. Cunningham.

It was a tall, stately woman that opened the door. She looked down at Anne, brows furrowed. "Can I help you?"

"I'm Anne Sallow," Anne said, voice strained. "I wrote to you about your research."

The woman's eyes widened. "It's you," she said. "Come--come in, child, it's freezing."

With a friendly hand, Dr. Cunningham led Anne inside. As the door closed, she told her, "What are you doing, coming all the way here on Christmas Day?"